Man killed dropping off son at Detroit school survived other murder attempts

DETROIT (WJBK) - A Detroit man was killed after dropping his son off at Mark Twain Elementary School Wednesday. Police believe he knew his killer, and say this isn't the first time the victim was targeted.

Investigators say 28-year-old Keenan Beard took his 5-year-old son into the school on Fort Street at about 8:10 a.m. and when he got back into his car, a backseat passenger shot him in the head then took off running.

As police search for a suspect, sources tell FOX 2 the murder appears to be in retaliation for another murder. Sources say Beard was the prime suspect in a 2014 murder but was not yet under arrest.

In April 2015, someone tried to kill Beard outside a gas station at Fort and Schaefer - firing nearly 50 shots with an AK-47. Beard was hit but recovered. Then last month, his house was shot up and now this.

"Certainly our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. We're confident that we're going to bring some closure to this," Craig said.

Fortunately, children at the school were not harmed and the school was locked down for a short time. Some parents picked up their kids early. Families in this neighborhood say this violence hits way too close to home.

"I'm just praying for the school and the kids," said one parent.

"I'm kind of speechless. I grew up out here and a lot has changed out here and this was unheard of,” said parent Surayya Karriem. "A lot of feelings, I want to move, I want to sell my house."

"It's sad, it's real sad," said Calvin Hopkins. "What's going on with the guns and the killing and it seems there's no kind of way to take a stop - it's happening all the time and I don't know what to do."

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detroit police.